Jim Ludden ’61 Jim Ludden taught chemistry and mathematics at a secondary school in Arochuku, Nigeria, from 1963 to 1965. During several vacations, he helped build a pipe organ in the town of Calabar.

The Peace Corps gave me an opportunity to experience another culture closely, and learning new corporate cultures in the United States is not quite sufficient any longer. I can more readily accept some of the cultural and philosophical differences that we encounter when dealing with people of different backgrounds, economic levels, and heritage. I also better accept people where they are, after seeing what the really poor have to put up with.

At one point I seriously wondered if, by teaching Western science and math to West Africans, I was really doing the world any good. I never really could answer the question, but realized that if I didn't believe that I was helping my only alternative was despair. A couple of my fellow volunteers met that fate and had to be sent home early.

Working in an underdeveloped country like Nigeria gave me a sense of technical omnipotence that has persisted, for better or worse. So I've flitted from one thing to another as the opportunity arose: pipe organ building, roofing engineering, Ph.D. in forest economics, research science, management consulting and, finally, computing, figuring that would pay for a while.

The experience in Nigeria meant enough to me that I'd willingly do it again. My wife, Carol, and I have actually applied for an overseas mission where I would be useful as a technician. We also travel to a retreat center in Cuernavaca, Mexico, run by a group of 250 Benedictine nuns who work mostly with poor, indigenous people in different areas, including a very poor region of northern Nicaragua. The Peace Corps experience gave me a good preparation for visits there.

When I visit Latin America I'm constantly puttering around, fixing the car, the water pump, oiling rusty hinges, etc. But I try to learn from the poor, too—something that I did not do very well in the Peace Corps, where I mostly read books and visited other volunteers in my spare time.

I would recommend the Peace Corps to anyone willing to learn more about themselves and another culture, and to possibly be a great help to someone.

—Deborah Haar Clark

When this story was posted in January 2005, this was on the front page of PCOL:

Ask NotAs our country prepares for the inauguration of a President, we remember one of the greatest speeches of the 20th century and how his words inspired us. "And so, my fellow Americans: ask not what your country can do for you--ask what you can do for your country. My fellow citizens of the world: ask not what America will do for you, but what together we can do for the freedom of man."

Latest: RPCVs and Peace Corps provide aid Peace Corps made an appeal last week to all Thailand RPCV's to consider serving again through the Crisis Corps and more than 30 RPCVs have responded so far. RPCVs: Read what an RPCV-led NGO is doing about the crisis an how one RPCV is headed for Sri Lanka to help a nation he grew to love. Question: Is Crisis Corps going to send RPCVs to India, Indonesia and nine other countries that need help?

The World's Broken Promise to our ChildrenFormer Director Carol Bellamy, now head of Unicef, says that the appalling conditions endured today by half the world's children speak to a broken promise. Too many governments are doing worse than neglecting children -- they are making deliberate, informed choices that hurt children. Read her op-ed and Unicef's report on the State of the World's Children 2005.

Our debt to Bill MoyersFormer Peace Corps Deputy Director Bill Moyers leaves PBS next week to begin writing his memoir of Lyndon Baines Johnson. Read what Moyers says about journalism under fire, the value of a free press, and the yearning for democracy. "We have got to nurture the spirit of independent journalism in this country," he warns, "or we'll not save capitalism from its own excesses, and we'll not save democracy from its own inertia."

Is Gaddi Leaving? Rumors are swirling that Peace Corps Director Vasquez may be leaving the administration. We think Director Vasquez has been doing a good job and if he decides to stay to the end of the administration, he could possibly have the same sort of impact as a Loret Ruppe Miller. If Vasquez has decided to leave, then Bob Taft, Peter McPherson, Chris Shays, or Jody Olsen would be good candidates to run the agency. Latest: For the record, Peace Corps has no comment on the rumors.

The Birth of the Peace CorpsUMBC's Shriver Center and the Maryland Returned Volunteers hosted Scott Stossel, biographer of Sargent Shriver, who spoke on the Birth of the Peace Corps. This is the second annual Peace Corps History series - last year's speaker was Peace Corps Director Jack Vaughn.

Read the stories and leave your comments.

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Story Source: Pomona Magazine

This story has been posted in the following forums: : Headlines; COS - Nigeria

I need to hear from Jim Ludden.I will be excited to hear from him. I was one of his students at Arodhukwu=, Nigeria. He made a great impact on my life. I am in this country today because He taught me values around dedication that helped me. My name is Alfred Onyeuku. I was the president of the science club at Aggrey Memorial College, Arochukwu. Jim Ludden formed this club to show us the practical use of what he taught. My email is onyeuku@aol.comThanks in advance.

I WAS SURPRISED AT THE LEVEL OF COMMITMENT PEACE CROPS VOLUNTEERS HAVE PUT IN TO MAKE THE WORLD A BETTER PLACE FOR ALL OF US. WE ALL KNOW THAT THE BEST WAY TO LIVE IS TO LIVE SERVING YOUR FELLOW MEN. YOU DID A GREAT JOB AND GOD'S REWARD IS AWAITING YOU ALL.

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